Two Blount County men have plead guilty to TennCare fraud related to selling prescription pain killers obtained through TennCare benefits.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the conviction of Robert Eric Stine, 30, and a plea agreement involving 47-year old Ryan D. Hutson, both of Maryville. 

Stine was accused of selling the painkiller hydrocodone to an undercover agent; the medication that had been obtained by Hutson who used TennCare to pay for a physician's office visit where he obtained the prescription for the drug. 

"The illegal trafficking of TennCare drugs is a problem across the state, and we simply will not tolerate it," Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. "TennCare enrollees who participate in selling drugs paid for by TennCare – or through a doctor's visit paid for by TennCare – should understand this is a serious crime we intend to prosecute."

Stine was sentenced to three years for the delivery of a Schedule III drug, two years for TennCare fraud and an additional 11 months 29 days for simple possession.  He was ordered by the court to pay $2,750 in fines.

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